Our latest Luke 5 Award
Through the Roof ’ s Luke 5 Award celebrates disability inclusion in Christian life . Usually , a disabled individual makes the nomination – to celebrate how an individual , group or church has made a difference by enabling them to access Christian life in some way . This time , we have several disabled people telling of how they are now able to access Christian life , thanks to Madeleine Watts , Roofbreaker and Parish Nurse at St Saviour ’ s Parish Church , Great Moor , Stockport .
Madeleine has encouraged the church to make great strides forwards for accessibility , including having large print available , reorganising pews for wheelchair users , and making sure a microphone is used in all meetings so that everyone can join in . As Madeleine herself says “ We have an amazing Gospel to proclaim but is it accessible to all ?”
This has really made a difference to several disabled people in the church …
“ Madeleine insists all church meetings members use a microphone . So now I can hear everything that is said .”
“ Thank you for organising the pews . I can
Journey with Jesus : Disability Awareness Sunday 2024
Disability Awareness Sunday this year is Sunday 22nd September 2024 , when we invite all Christians to think about disability and all churches to hold a Disability Awareness Sunday service or to celebrate disability inclusion in some way . Please do ask your church to put it in the calendar now and register for the new resource pack .
This year , God has got us thinking big – so there is a whole Disability Awareness Week ! Leading up to 22 nd Sept , we encourage you to find different ways to celebrate and meet with disabled people in your community . Why not hold a coffee morning with home-baked cakes and invite local disabled people ? Or hold a social gathering , with craft activities or musical entertainment ? Or come up with your own ideas .
Disability Awareness Week will begin on Sunday 15th September 2024 with a launch service , led by Revd Helen Cameron , the President of the Methodist Conference ,
Parish Nurse Madeleine Watts , our latest Luke 5 award winner .
Madeleine in action as a Parish Nurse .
Rev Andrew Miles who features in the DAS 2024 resource video . put my wheelchair anywhere I wish not just at the front or back . Thanks Madeleine .”
“ I can see large books now in church .”
Madeleine is a Parish Nurse at St Saviour ’ s Parish Church , Great Moor , and we are pleased that Through the Roof was asked by Parish Nursing Ministries UK to give some training about disability inclusion .
Parish Nursing Ministries UK ( www . parishnursing . org . uk ) support Christian communities across the UK to establish Parish Nursing services , promoting health and wellbeing . Every Parish Nurse is a Registered Nurse , employed through a local church or Christian organisation .
Through the Roof and Parish Nursing have been able to work side by side , and here we see what a difference Madeleine has been able to make for those in her church .
We love to hear about and celebrate disability inclusion in Christian life . Our Luke 5 Award is for any disabled person to make a nomination to recognise the difference that ’ s been made . To make a nomination see the TTR website : https :// throughtheroof . org / 2020 / 11 / 10 / luke-5-award-nomination /
which will be live-streamed on YouTube – see our Facebook page or website for the link nearer the time ! Then we are planning a whole week of social media activities , so keep an eye out for posts that week .
This year ’ s Disability Awareness resource theme will be ‘ Journey with Jesus ’ and we will be exploring the ABC Journey of Disability Inclusion – from A for Access , to B for Belonging to C for Commission .
We want to show that church disability inclusion is a journey that leads us beyond basic access – we need everyone to fully belong and be commissioned to use their giftings to serve in God ’ s Kingdom .
Explore this theme of the journey of disability inclusion with our free DAS 2024 resource pack available now – visit www . throughtheroof . org / forchurches / disabilityawareness-sunday / for more information .
www . throughtheroof . org